Disclaimer; The usual disclaimer applies. I don't own this story.

Noon Sunday found Harry making his way to the top of the astronomy tower. When he got there however he found the door to the roof blocked by Professor McGonagall.

"What is the meaning of this foolishness? You aren't going to be jumping from the astronomy tower. It is impossible to fly on your own power. Were you just planning to stand there and have someone try to talk you out of it so that you can go on pretending anything is possible?"

"This is possible Professor. You've known me a long time, am I the sort to intentionally get myself killed by jumping? Am I the sort to make promises and then back out of them? I would like to think not."

"It's true you haven't been that way in the past, but this is just foolish. Are you seriously hoping to find a spell no one else has before you hit the ground? Last night was entertaining to be sure, but it won't work for something like this. Belief can only carry you so far Mr. Potter."

"I am not hoping anything. I already know what I need to do. Belief can get you everywhere. I would hate to disappoint you Professor, but I will be going to that roof and I will be jumping off. If not for the public spectacle to prove my lessons, then just to have fun and fly. I won't even require you to move. I would prefer not to walk through the stone around you, it is rather uncomfortable and possibly injurious, but it can be done." He punched his fist into the wall, immersing it up to the wrist in stone.

"There is really nothing I or anyone can do to stop you?"

"I don't think so. The worst you can do is expel me and while I would prefer not to do that, I don't really need the education. I am here because I feel at home at Hogwarts, and it is where my friends are."

"At least tell me that this isn't fueled by that liquid Gryffindor Courage you carry about."

"No, but the victory party after we annihilate everyone for both the House Cup and the Quidditch cup might be."

"Please don't."

"Alright, shall we go meet the school?"

"If you are insisting on getting yourself killed in this charade."

They strode together out onto the observation deck and looked over the school. It appeared that about half the school had shown up to watch his attempt to go down in history. There appeared to be some heavy betting going on, a few Ravenclaw boys were making book on all the possible outcomes. They should have known better than to make book on Harry Potter, and they definitely should not have given Luna such great odds on her oddball bet.

"Hey! What odds can I get on making it out of this unscathed after I jump?" He yelled to them.

"Three to Two!" They yelled back.

"Five galleons on me then!" He tossed some money down to them, and betting picked up on that same outcome. He hoped they could cover it all.

Harry took off his robe and handed it to McGonagall, leaving him dressed in a white silk shirt and black linen trousers, elegant and perhaps overdressed but he was here to make a statement. He wasn't going to make a statement dressed in Dudley's old hand me downs, that's for sure. He wet his finger and held it up to test the wind.

He stood tall for a moment, then toppled forward head first over the side. Screams rang out from below as he fell like a rock.

Less than fifteen feet from the ground, he pulled out of his dive and soared gracefully back into the sunshine and fresh air with a wild whoop of joy and freedom. He set himself up to make a circuit of the courtyard before landing. Halfway around, as he passed by the transfiguration classroom, he heard a roar as Kaelas pounced from his favorite sunning spot.

More screams echoed below him as the school got their second glimpse of Kaelas. Most had begun to discount the rumors from Moody's first years, but this seemed to prove it. Among the screams, there was on gruff chuckle and a yell of "Constant Vigilance!" There was a short scuffle as he and Kaelas wrestled in mid air. Kaelas finally scored a swipe across Harry's chest and instantly put up his sight shield and stalked away. Harry watched the cat stalk back to his spot on the roof and promised himself revenge. That hurt! And, he had lost his bet.

He landed and walked over to the bookies. "Can we consider that I survived the flying part unscathed?"

"Sorry, but no. Besides, we gave Luna twenty to one odds, we need everything we can get!"

"What was her bet?"

"That you could fly but would be attacked by an invisible flying tiger. We can't tell if that was a tiger or a lioness but we know when we are beaten."

"It was an Acerian Cat, but that's not the point. He wasn't flying though, just walking on air."

"Close enough for us."

"Here's a hint for you guys, don't bet against the seer."

"She's a seer? We always knew she was odd, but we didn't think she was a seer!"

"Just lighten up on her will you? I think I am about to be dragged to the Hospital Wing for these scratches."

Sure enough, it looked as if McGonagall, Moody, and Madam Pomphrey were all converging on him.

"Mr. Potter, I thought I told you not to play around with time!"

"And I thought I swore on my magic I was not a white tiger animagus. That wasn't me!"

"I had forgotten that."

Moody grabbed his chance while McGonagall was distracted. "What have I taught you boy, Constant Vigilance! You should have been ready for that."

"I saw him there, I just didn't think he was going to take a swipe at me! He hasn't attacked me since I came, I thought we were past that stage."

"Ah-ha! So you do know who that is!"

"Of course I do. No offense Madam Pomphrey, but I would prefer to avoid the hospital wing. As soon as I can find Lucy, I will be right as rain in no time. Lucy!"

A sandy brown head turned, "Yeah?"

"Mr. Shadow took a chunk out of me to make sure we all lost our bets. Grab your healer kit and get over here."

"Really, Mr. Potter! I must insist that you come to the Hospital wing. Those gashes are bleeding all over the place, they could get infected."

"If you'll let me and Lucy worry about them, we can have them healed before we would make it to the Hospital Wing and with less fuss. I'm not going to die from this, I've done worse in training. You should have seen me when I was learning to fight with a knife. Lucy nearly gutted me like a fish!"

"You let a ten year old witch knife you?" Moody asked.

"It wasn't that I let her, she's been using knives, bows, and something like a halberd since she was old enough to hold one. She beat me and could have killed me before I was able to so much as scratch her. Give her a chance Professor, she might surprise you."

Lucy showed up with a wooden frame and spool of silk thread. Harry lay down on the grass and vanished his ruined shirt.

"Thanks Lucy. Let's tie this into both of our jewels. Grab mine from my ankle bracelet. I'll funnel the power to you and you sing the web alright?"

She nodded and began to string the silk across the frame, she took off her necklace and tied it opposite his anklet. Then she took blood from his wound and let droplets fall on important parts of the web. Blood from both of them was smeared across the jewels. Harry closed his eyes in intense concentration as Lucy began to sing in a soft voice. To the astonishment of the on looking teachers, his wounds began to close and the scars reduced to pale pink lines across his skin.

"Thank you Lucy, my own personal Healer. See Madam Pomphrey, no need for an overnight stay. I'm fine, she's fine. Not that we would say no to some pepper up potions mind, that takes a fair bit of energy."

"Harrumph! I'll be the judge of that. Both of you come with me."

Harry looked at Lucy and grinned, "You realize you just had every Gryffindor girl's dream right? Harry Potter shirtless on the ground beneath you and under your spell… Just don't tell Ginny." He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek when she blushed crimson.

Professor McGonagall found her avenue of question again, "So, Mr. Potter, who was it you said attacked you? Matters of discipline among the students are important. Mr. Shadow was it?"

Harry cursed inwardly, "I don't want to pursue the matter. Mr. Shadow was just playing a little joke. Everyone lost a bit of money and looked foolish. Me especially. No harm done."

"I am sorry, but even if you don't want to pursue it I must. And this nickname of his only makes things more interesting. Wasn't Mr. Shadow one of the names behind the prank at the opening feast. I remember you swearing on your magic that if you found the students responsible you would bring them to me. Just like you swore on your magic you weren't a white tiger animagus. Are your oaths actually any good?"

"Both were true oaths. Mr. Shadow did not cast the flaming letters. I can't reveal him beyond this for security reasons. He is one of Three, like I am one of Three. Remember the conversation we had last night?"

"The three that are guarding…"

"Yes."

"Ah. So his assault on you was not assault you say?"

"No, I would rather call it a training exercise, if that is alright with you."

"I suppose we can work with that."

"If you two are done being cryptic, I want to give my patient a thorough examination." The healer was a bit peeved at being ignored.

"Just admit you love having me undress in front of you as much as the other girls. All you have to do is ask…" Harry said with a lecherous grin.

"Harry, we need to talk." Harry looked up from his book to find Ginny.

"Sure thing babe, where do you want to talk?"

"Let's go to your room."

"No problem." He lead her up the stairs to the Gryffindor Head Boy suite. "Ok, now that we're alone, which is what you obviously wanted, what's up?"

"Harry, what has changed?"

"What do you mean?"

"You've changed, you're different. You're still a nice guy, I still love you, but there is something different about you. You flirt, you tease, and you are a lot more affectionate. And that's with other girls. Are you serious about me?" Ginny was beginning to look hurt.

"Oh, Ginny come here," he pulled her into an embrace and just held her as they sat on a couch. "I think I need to explain some of what has happened over the summer. There are two answers, the short version and the long version. The short version is that I found what is going to beat Voldemort, and that makes me confident and secure."

"What does that have to do with flirting with all the other girls?"

"Dumbledore was right. After he revealed the prophecy to me, he told me that the power I have that Voldemort doesn't is my love. I finally understand how love can win this war. I may flirt and tease other girls, but who am I actually affectionate with? I've given Hermione, Gabrielle, and Lucy a peck on the cheek or two. I've given hugs to a few female friends. I've given Hedwig a playful nip or cuddled close. But you are the one I come to for anything else. You are the only one I've kissed on the lips or with any passion. You are the one I've caressed and held to me."

"Wait, Hedwig?"

"Oh. Uh… I may be an owl animagus. Please don't let that get out."

"That's why she's done those illusions of you two!"

"Um… yeah, she seems to think I am a handsome owl. Are you jealous of Hedwig?"

"No I am not jealous, you are a handsome man, why wouldn't you look good as an owl? Wait a minute, you did that on purpose! You are trying to distract me! So how is flirting with other women and owls going to save the world?"

"It isn't. That gets into the long version. Ok, now just like most people can be divided into Muggles and Wizards, wizards and witches can be divided as well. Like the majority of humans are muggle, the majority of wizards are just wizards. But some have just a little extra. I am one of those. I am what is called a Warlord Prince. Warlord Princes have much stronger instincts than usual, almost as if they were still an animal inside. Surely you've noticed them, I can't be sure but I believe they are some of the same qualities that brought you to me. I don't have many friends, but those I do I love deeply and would do anything for. My temper is only riled by a few things, but when sparked is legendary. Basically I am what it means to be a male. I fight, I love, I protect, and I serve."

"Ok, I am still not getting it."

"Think of wolves. A warlord prince is the alpha wolf. He loves his whole pack and will fight to the death to protect it. Ultimately, though he looks like a leader, he is serving the whole pack by giving them something to bond around. I will defeat Voldemort because I am willing to die to do so. He isn't. He thinks I am an annoyance, or some fly to be swatted, but when the battle turns against him, he is not fighting FOR anything but himself. If he dies killing me, he loses. If I die killing him, everyone in the world wins. Like that wolf, I love enough to die. I really hope I don't have to, but I will if needed. The whole world, at least those good honest people, is my pack. I am not fighting just for me, or you, or Ron and Hermione. I am fighting for the whole world here, wizards and muggles."

"Because I finally understand why I have a "saving people thing" as Hermione puts it, I am more comfortable in my skin. I can tease, joke, laugh, love, and flirt. But I know who I want to come home to. Does that make you jealous? To know that I can love others and not just you? You are the only person I am dating, the only person I am snogging, and most certainly the only person I am hoping to do some wickedly delicious things to."

"I guess not, but I want you to myself. Can you not flirt so much? Cut back just a little? I will try not to be jealous if you try not to make me jealous."

"Thank you, I will try."

"Good. Now, about those wickedly delicious things you wanted to do to me? What did you have in mind?" She tried to look cute and innocent.

"Nothing too much yet, I plan to seduce you slowly after all. In the mean time I will just make you beg me to hurry up. Close your eyes."

When she did, he took a few steps back before beginning slowly with the phantoms. Invisible hands held and caressed her while a mouth and tongue kissed and nibbled her neck. It was quite a while before she opened her eyes to find him sitting across the room on his bed, an evil smile on his face. She let out a loud "Eep!" of surprise and looked around for her "new friend."

"Who was that if it wasn't you? Why are you smiling?"

"That was me, and that is just a taste. I was going easy on you, I have enough hands, mouths, and tongues to be an orgy all by myself. When we do eventually come to that next step, I want to know that no one else can ever make you feel the same. And I want you to know it as well."

"I can already tell that. You make me feel different than any other man, and that's without using your special magics."

"Tell me Ginny, do you think you can be quiet? Or stay still? We're going to find out. I don't have to be there with you to be with you. I wonder what would happen if I made you squirm in Transfiguration? Or charms? Do you think anyone would notice?"

"You wouldn't!"

"Is it so wrong to want my girlfriend to be happy? Is it wrong to want to make her feel loved? These are things I have been taught to be good at. I am almost as good at them as I am at fighting. One day I hope to be better."

"Not in a class! And just who is teaching you?"

"There goes that jealousy again. Daemon, Lucy's father and my adopted one, was a sex slave before he married the Queen. If he did his job well, they wouldn't take out their extra energy finding new ways to torture him. He was very good, the best on three worlds, before he had to kill everyone and escape slavery. He's been teaching a lot of interesting magic. No more fun magic for you until you stop being jealous about me knowing it."

"I'll be good!" She looked just like a little girl who lost her puppy. Perfect, he had her right where he wanted her..